Smoking boys sparked blaze at Slovak castle

Two boys trying to smoke cigarettes started a blaze which destroyed parts of a 14th century castle in eastern Slovakia at the weekend, police said on Tuesday.

"Two boys, aged 11 and 12, were trying to light up a cigarette and because of their careless use of matches the grass at the castle hill caught fire," police spokeswoman Jana Mesarova said.

"Police have not pressed charges yet due to the young age of the suspects," Interior Minister Daniel Lipsic said.

In Slovakia, children under 15 cannot be criminally prosecuted.

Police originally said the fire was started by locals burning dry grass.

The medieval castle of Krasna Horka suffered extensive damage to the roof as well as parts of its interior.

The culture ministry said the damage was severe but did not indicate how much repairs would cost.

Nobody was injured but several tourists had a narrow escape as their tour of the castle finished just before the fire broke out.

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